Civil forfeiture process

Last updated on September 26, 2025

The Civil Forfeiture Office is currently impacted by BCGEU job action. Response and processing times may be delayed. Mail service is also impacted. We recommend you contact our office by phone or email during this time. Thank you for your patience.

The Civil Forfeiture Act (the Act) allows the Director to commence legal proceedings against property that is either:

The proceeds of unlawful activity; or
An instrument of unlawful activity

Both of the above terms are defined in section 1 of the CFA.

The CFA provides for two different forfeiture processes:

Civil forfeiture proceedings in the BC Supreme Court
Administrative forfeiture

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Civil forfeiture process

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